A British Royal Air Force (RAF) F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter jet was forced to make an emergency landing at Kagoshima Airport in southern Japan on Saturday morning after the pilot detected a possible technical fault, Japanese authorities confirmed.
The aircraft, operating from the Royal Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, was taking part in large-scale joint exercises with Japan’s Self-Defense Forces, the US military, and other regional partners in the Western Pacific. The drills are set to run until August 12.
Airport officials stated the incident occurred around 11:30 a.m. local time, when the pilot requested emergency landing clearance due to suspected equipment malfunction. The fighter jet touched down safely and was moved to a taxiway within 20 minutes, enabling the runway to reopen. Six civilian flights faced delays of about 20 minutes. No injuries were reported.
Japan’s Ministry of Defense later confirmed the cause as “an aircraft malfunction,” noting the jet remains parked for safety inspections.
This incident comes less than two months after another UK F-35 diverted to Kerala’s Kannur International Airport in India following a reported technical problem during a transit flight.
The F-35B, a short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, is known for its advanced stealth, sensors, and versatility. However, it has faced recurring technical and maintenance issues over the years.
The HMS Prince of Wales carrier strike group is currently on a major Indo-Pacific deployment, working alongside allied navies in high-profile maritime security exercises involving Japan, India, the US, and other regional partners.
Disclaimer: This article is based on information from Japanese authorities and official defense sources. Details may be subject to updates as more information becomes available.
